Front cover:In
November 1988, Azerbaijanis began demonstrating in Baku against
early indications that Armenians living in Karabakh intended
to secede from Azerbaijan and join that territory to Armenia.
These protests gradually became the nation's cry for independence,
thus contradicting the leadership of the Soviet state as symbolized
here by the statue of Lenin. Photographer Oleg Litvin chose his
vantage point high on one of the balconies of the State Government
Building. Lenin's statue was dismantled when the Soviet Union
collapsed (1991) and this square which used to bear his name
has since been renamed "Azadlig"-Freedom.

Back cover:One of the greatest tragedies this century for
Azerbaijanis has been the expulsion of nearly 1 million refugees
from their homes due to the conflict with Armenians over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Here the sensitive eye of photographer Roshanak Bayramlou captures
a poignant moment for a seven-year old victim of this cruel political
struggle. Photo: Saatli, where refugees have been living in railroad
boxcars since 1993.